Compression wrap

ABSTRACT

A compression wrap for providing pressure to an injured portion of a joint of a limb is provided. The compression wrap includes flexible body that includes a pressure application portion for applying pressure to the limb of user and a strap portion. The strap portion is connected to the pressure application portion and adjustably secures the compression wrap to the limb. A strap attachment is attached to the flexible body having a first portion that releasably engages the flexible body when the compression wrap is in a large configuration and a second portion that releasably engages the flexible body when the compression wrap is in a small configuration.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/552,875, filed Oct. 25, 2006, the entireteachings and disclosure of which are incorporated herein by referencethereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to orthopedic devices, and moreparticularly to a wrap for applying a pressure to the upper forearm torelieve pain associated with lateral and medial epicondylitis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A common injury to people who play such sports as baseball or tennis, orto manual laborers such as construction workers is lateralepicondylitis, also known as, “tennis elbow.” Tennis elbow is generallycaused by overuse of the extensor tendons located proximate the elbowresulting in tears in the tendons at or near the lateral epicondyle.This is why such injury occurs from activities that require repeatedflexure and movement of the elbow, e.g. when throwing a ball, swinging aracket or hammer, or twisting a screwdriver. Another common, relatedinjury is medial epicondylitis, also known as “Golfer's Elbow.” Golfer'selbow is generally caused by overuse of the flexor tendons located justdistal to the elbow and results in tears to the tendons near the medialepicondyle.

The best way to relieve the pain associated with and cure tennis elbowor golfer's elbow is to stop performing the activities that irritate thearm and allow the arm to heal. While this may be feasible for theweekend warrior athlete, this is not so easy for the manual laborer orprofessional athlete.

It has been found that pressure applied to the tendons prevents furtherirritation. The pressure is applied to healthy tissue of the tendon in alocation as close to the injured tissue as possible without actuallybeing applied to the injury. In effect, the pressure creates a secondaryattachment point between the injury and the wrist flexor or wristextensor that prevents the muscle from pulling on the injured area ofthe tendon. This generally relieves and/or eliminates the painassociated with tennis or golfer's elbow as well as facilitates recoveryand healing of the irritated area.

Numerous devices have been designed to attempt to provide pressure orsupport to the injured area to reduce further injury or pain associatedwith tennis or golfer's elbow while facilitating continued use of theelbow. Some devices compress the muscle in an attempt to reduce the pullon the epicondyle. While such devices may be effective to relieve muchof the pain associated with tennis elbow, they often restrict thecontraction of the muscle, thereby limiting the usefulness of themuscle. Other devices are positioned closer to the epicondyle with theintention of placing pressure more on the tendons. These devices oftenirritate and chafe the user because the strap of the device often ispositioned within the crease of the elbow in order to apply the pressurenear the site of the pain. This irritation also affects or restricts therange of motion of the arm. Furthermore, many devices, although they areadjustable, either come in an adult size or a child size but are notsufficiently adjustable that only a single device can be sold thataccommodates both an adult or a child.

There exists, therefore, a need in the art for an improved device forcounteracting the effects of tennis and golfer's elbow.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, an improved compression wrap for applying pressure tocombat the effects of tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, or other injuriesproximate joints is provided. The improved compression wrap is simple indesign. Further, the improved compression wrap more effectively appliesthe requisite pressure to counteract the effects of tennis elbow. Moreparticularly, the device includes a strap that encircles the arm withoutinterfering with the crease of the elbow while including a pocketportion that holds an orthopedic device that applies the requisitepressure to the injury without restricting muscle function as priordevices do.

In another embodiment, a compression wrap provides multiple attachmentstrips such that the compression wrap can be adjusted from an adult sizeto a child size. Alternatively, an embodiment includes a singleelongated attachment strip. In either embodiment, a portion of thecompression wrap can be removed to shorten the length of the compressionwrap. In particular, either at least one of the multiple attachmentstrips is removed or a portion of the elongated attachment strip is cutand removed when shortening the compression wrap.

In yet another embodiment, an improved compression wrap includes anelongated strap portion for adjustably securing the compression wrapproximate an injured joint of a limb of a wearer. A pocket portion isconnected to a first end of the a strap portion and includes at leastone side spaced outward from a corresponding side of the strap portion asubstantial distance along an offset axis substantially orthogonal tothe length of the strap portion. The pocket portion forms an insertpocket for receiving a compression insert. A buckle loop, sized toreceive the strap portion therethrough, connects to the opposite side ofthe pocket portion as the strap portion and receives the strap portiontherethrough.

In yet another embodiment an improved compression wrap generallyincludes a pocket portion and an elongated strap portion. A strapattachment is connected to the strap portion. The strap attachmentincludes first and second portions that releasably engage the strapportion. The first portion releasably engages the strap portion in alarge configuration and the second portion releasably engages the strapportion in a small configuration. A buckle loop is connected proximatean opposite side of the pocket portion as the strap portion receives thestrap portion therethrough. The plurality of attachment portions providefor easily adjusting the compression wrap from an adult size to a childsize.

In another embodiment, the compression wrap is adjustable from the largesize to the small size by removing a portion of the strap portion andthe strap attachment.

Other aspects, objectives and advantages of the invention will becomemore apparent from the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of thespecification illustrate several aspects of the present invention and,together with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of an compression wrap inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view illustration of the compression wrap of FIG. 5having the compression wrap in a position as though it were mounted toan arm;

FIG. 3 is a top view illustration of the compression wrap of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view illustration of the compression wrap of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective illustration of the prosthetic insert ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the prosthetic insert of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a side view illustration of the compression wrap of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a side view illustration of the compression wrap of FIG. 1having an end portion cut off to illustrate the adaptability of thecompression wrap;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of the compression wrap of FIG. 1 mounted toan elbow, showing the exterior of the arm;

FIG. 10 is another illustration of the compression wrap of FIG. 1mounted to an elbow showing the interior of the arm;

FIG. 11 is a top view of another embodiment of a compression wrap havinga single attachment strip; and

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 11.

While the invention will be described in connection with certainpreferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to thoseembodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives,modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope ofthe invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the figures, FIG. 1 illustrates a compression wrap 10according to one embodiment of the present invention. The compressionwrap 10 generally includes a flexible body 11 that includes a pocketportion 12 and a strap portion 14. The pocket portion 12 defines areceiving pocket 18 that removably receives a compression wrap insert 22for applying pressure to an injured portion of an elbow. The strapportion 14 allows for adjustably securing the compression wrap 10 to thearm of a wearer.

The body 11 is generally formed from an elongated strip of paddingmaterial 26 stitched to a strip of loop-type fastener material 30. In anembodiment, the elongated strip of padding material 26 is flexible andelastic. The padding material 26 may be made from and/or includeneoprene or foam material. Further, the foam or neoprene material can bebonded to an elastic fabric backing. The flexible and elastic propertiesof the elongated strip of padding material 26 allow the body 11 to flexand bend to closely fit and conform to the contours of the elbow regionof the wearer's arm.

The strip of loop-type fastener material 30, such as VELCRO, forms asecond layer of material of the body 11. This strip of loop-typefastener material 30 is stitched to the elongated strip of paddingmaterial 26. The stitching is illustrated as dashed lines. In anembodiment, the strip of loop-type fastener material 30 is flexible butsubstantially inelastic. The inelasticity of the strip of loop-typefastener material 30 in that embodiment provides support for theelongated strip of padding material 26 and allows the compression wrap10 to be tightened around and relative to the elbow region of the wearerwhile preventing substantial elongation of the elongated strip ofpadding material 26. The strip of loop-type fastener material 30 alsofunctions to provide releasable and adjustable securement of thecompression wrap 10.

The compression wrap 10 further includes a buckle loop, e.g. in the formof D-ring 34 attached to the body 11 proximate the pocket portion 12.The D-ring 34 is generally rectangular in shape and is preferably formedfrom plastic. However, the D-ring 34 need not be generally rectangularand can be formed from other substantially rigid materials such asmetal. As best illustrated in FIG. 2, a mounting pocket 36 formedproximate the pocket portion 12 receives and secures one side of theD-ring 34 therein to secure the D-ring 34 to the body 11. The mountingpocket 36 is formed by folding over a portion of the body 11 at fold 38and stitching the two over lapping layers of the body 11 to one anotherat stitch 40 (see FIG. 1). In an embodiment, the portion of materialthat forms the mounting pocket 36 is tapered inward such that fold 38and the D-ring 34 are narrower than the width of the pocket portion 12.

The D-ring 34 is sized to receive the strap portion 14 therethrough. Asillustrated in FIG. 2, the D-ring 34 functions to allow the strapportion 14 to be folded back on itself. Particularly, the free end 44 ofthe strap portion 14 is fed through the aperture of the D-ring 34 andthen fold back on itself and secured using an attachment strip 48 formedfrom a strip of hook-type fastener material, such as VELCRO, that isconfigured to releasably engage the loop-type fastener material 30. Thisconfiguration allows the size of the compression strap 10 to be easilyadjusted by passing more or less of the strap portion 14 through theD-ring 34 and then back on itself to engage the loop-type fastenermaterial 30 with the attachment strip 48.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the attachment strip 48 defines afree end 44 of the compression wrap 10, opposite D-ring 34. Theattachment strip 48 is stitched between the strip of loop-type fastenermaterial 30 and the elongated strip of padding material 26 at stitch 50.

An arm guard 52 positioned proximate and below the D-ring 34 preventscontact between the wearer's arm and the D-ring 34 to protect thewearer's arm from irritation. The arm guard 52 can be formed from foam,neoprene or other padding materials. Preferably, the arm guard 52 isstitched to the body 11 with stitch 40 that forms the mounting pocket36.

As identified previously, the pocket portion 12 of the compression wrap10 forms the receiving pocket 18 for receiving the compression wrapinsert 22. The receiving pocket 18 is formed between the overlappinglayers of the body 11. More particularly, the overlapping layers of thebody 11 are secured together at stitches 56 and stitch 40 forming thereceiving pocket 18 therebetween. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the pocketextends inward toward the center of the loop formed by the compressionwrap 10 when in a secured position.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the two layers of the body 11 that formthe receiving pocket 18 are only stitched together at the ends of thereceiving pocket 18 at stitches 40 and 56, but are not stitched at thesides of the receiving pocket 18 to provide access to the receivingpocket 18 for adjusting the position of the compression wrap insert 22from either side of the compression wrap 10. As such, the compressionwrap insert 22 may be removed from the compression wrap 10 and flippedover or rotated to adjust the pressure application of the compressionwrap 10. This also allows the compression wrap to be applied to eitherthe left or right arm of the wearer while orienting the arm guard 52 andthe D-ring 34 in a similar position on either arm by simply rotating thecompression wrap insert 22 180 degrees.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the compression wrap insert 22 includesa base portion 62 and a raised portion 64 and is substantially moonshaped. In an embodiment, the compression wrap insert 22 issemi-compressible. In a further embodiment, the compression wrap insert22 is formed from a silicone rubber or similar material. As illustratedin FIGS. 7 and 8, the compression wrap insert 22 can be positionedwithin the receiving pocket 18 with either the raised portion 64downward and positioned toward the short folded over portion of the body11 (see FIG. 7) or with the base portion 62 downward and positionedtoward the short folded over portion of the body 11 (see FIG. 8). Whenit is preferred to have a more localized loading on the injured portionof the elbow, the compression wrap insert 22 is positioned asillustrated in FIG. 7. In this configuration, the raised portion 64provides more of a point load to the wearer's elbow region. When it ispreferred to provide less localized and more distributed pressure on theinjured portion of the elbow, the compression wrap insert 22 ispositioned as illustrated in FIG. 8. In this configuration, the largersurface area of the base portion 62 distributes the pressure moreevenly.

As is illustrated in FIG. 7, the illustrated embodiment includes asecond attachment strip 70. This second attachment strip 70 ispositioned between the strip of loop-type fastener material 30 and theelongated strip of padding material 26 within pocket 71. Stitch 72secures one end of the second attachment strip 70 between the other twolayers of material. The other three sides of the second attachment strip70 are free and unstitched. The second attachment strip 70 functions asan alternative attachment mechanism and allows the compression wrap 10to be altered to fit smaller wearers such as from an adult size (largesize) to a child size (small size). This configuration is highlybeneficial because only a single size compression wrap need bemanufactured and sold, but yet it can be initially configured to fitsubstantially any size wearer.

If the compression wrap 10 needs to be shortened for a smaller wearer,the wearer removes the unnecessary additional length of material beyondstitch 72. Specifically, the user would merely cut the strip ofloop-type fastener material 30 as well as the elongated strip of paddingmaterial 26 within pocket 71. In doing so, the first attachment strip 48and a portion of the strap portion 14 to which attachment strip 48 issecured are severed from the rest of the body 11 and removed. It ispreferred that the user trim the strap portion 14 so that as much of thesurface area of the second attachment strip 70 is exposed for securingthe compression wrap 10 in a secured position. While the previousembodiment was described as having two attachment strips, more than twoattachment strips may be incorporated.

In an alternative embodiment, the compression wrap 110 includes only asingle long attachment strip 171 that includes an exposed portion 148and a hidden portion 170 instead of the two separate attachment strips48 and 70 of the previous embodiment. The long attachment strip 171 issecured at stitch 172 as well as the side stitches that run the lengthof the strap portion 114. The compression wrap 110 is shorted from alarge configuration to a small configuration by cutting all the waythrough the strap portion 114, i.e. through the loop-type fastenermaterial 130 and the elongated strip of padding material 126, and thelong attachment strip 171. The cut is made somewhere between the freeend of the strap portion 114 (i.e. the portion proximate to exposedportion 148) and stitch 172. After the excess length is removed, thelayer of loop-type fastener material 130 could be removed or folded toexpose the remaining portion of the long attachment strip 171.Preferably, between about ¾ inch and about 2 inches of the hiddenportion 170 of the long attachment strip 171 remains after cutting thestrap portion 114. After cutting, the long attachment strip 171 isprimarily secured to the strap portion 114 via stitch 172.

In an embodiment, backtacking may be incorporated instead of thetransverse stitching, i.e. stitches such as stitch 172. Backtackingoccurs where a single stitch is passed over multiple times to lock thestitch. Furthermore, in an embodiment, the stitching that runs generallyparallel with the length of the strap portion 114 may be backtackedproximate stitch 172 to prevent that stitching from coming undone whenthe excess portion of strap portion 114 is removed.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 the width of the pocket portion 12 iswider than the width of the strap portion 14. The width of the pocketportion 12 can be sized such that each side of the pocket portion 12extends approximately between about ⅛ inch to about ½ inch beyond thesides of the strap portion 14. As such the sides of the pocket portion12 are positioned a substantial distance outward from the sides of thestrap portion 14. More particularly, the sides of the pocket portion 12are displaced outward from the sides of the strap portion 14 in adirection substantially perpendicular to the length of the compressionwrap 10.

With further reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, when attached to the wearer'sarm, the pocket portion 12 is positioned proximate the outside 78 of theelbow region of the arm while the strap portion 14 is positionedproximate the inside 80 of the elbow region. The configuration of thecompression wrap 10, i.e. having the pocket portion 12 substantiallywider than the strap portion 14, is highly beneficial because thecompression wrap insert 22 within the receiving pocket 22 can be moreeasily and more closely positioned relative to the injury of thetendons, i.e. over the tendons and not substantially on or restrictingthe forearm muscles, without requiring the strap portion 14 to bepositioned within the crease 76 of the elbow region of the wearer. Bynot interfering with the crease 76 of the elbow, the compression wrap 10does not restrict movement of the elbow or cause irritation of the elbowby repeatedly rubbing against the skin of the crease of the elbow.

While the illustrated embodiment provides this feature of allowing thepocket portion 12 to be positioned proximate the injury while preventingthe strap portion 14 from interfering with the crease 76 of the elbowregion by having both sides of the pocket portion 12 offset from thesides of the strap portion 12, the pocket portion could be otherwiseconfigured to generate this effect. For example, only one side of thepocket portion 14 could be offset from the side of the strap portion 12or the strap portion 14 and pocket portion 12 could be substantiallyuniform in width but the pocket portion could be offset from the strapportion. However, such configurations would limit the ability to applythe same compression wrap 10 to either arm.

All references, including publications, patent applications, and patentscited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent asif each reference were individually and specifically indicated to beincorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the invention (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and theplural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing”are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, butnot limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of valuesherein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referringindividually to each separate value falling within the range, unlessotherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated intothe specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methodsdescribed herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwiseindicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The useof any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”)provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the inventionand does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unlessotherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construedas indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice ofthe invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, includingthe best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention.Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. Theinventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations asappropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practicedotherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, thisinvention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subjectmatter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicablelaw. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in allpossible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unlessotherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

What is claimed is:
 1. A compression wrap comprising: a flexible bodythat includes: a strap portion for adjustably securing the compressionwrap to a limb of a user; and a pressure application portion forapplying pressure to the limb of user; and a strap attachment attachedto the flexible body having a first portion that releasably engages theflexible body when the compression wrap is in a large configuration anda second portion that releasably engages the flexible body when thecompression wrap is in a small configuration.
 2. The compression wrap ofclaim 1, wherein the first portion of the strap attachment is secured tothe strap portion at a first location and the second portion of thestrap attachment is secured to the strap portion at a second location.3. The compression wrap of claim 2, wherein the first portion of thestrap attachment is a first attachment strip connected to the strapportion proximate a free end of the strap portion and the second portionof the strap attachment is a separate second attachment strip connectedto the strap portion, the second portion is interposed between the firstattachment strip and the pressure application portion.
 4. Thecompression wrap of claim 3, wherein the first attachment strip isconnected to the strap portion by a first stitch and the secondattachment strip is connected to the strap portion by a second stitchthat is independent of the first stitch.
 5. The compression wrap ofclaim 1, wherein the pressure application portion has a width that isgreater than a width of the strap portion such that the pressureapplication portion has at least one side spaced outward from acorresponding side of the strap portion along an offset axissubstantially orthogonal to a length of the strap portion.
 6. Thecompression wrap of claim 1, wherein: the flexible body has a firstlayer of padding material and a second layer of loop-type fastenermaterial attached to the first layer of padding material; and the firstand second portions of the strap attachment include hook-type fastenermaterial that releasably engage the loop-type fastener material whensecuring the compression wrap to the limb of a user in the correspondingconfigurations.
 7. The compression wrap of claim 1, wherein the pressureapplication portion defines a pocket portion configured to removablyreceive a compression wrap insert.
 8. The compression wrap of claim 1,wherein: the strap attachment is a single unitary strip of material; inthe large configuration, the second portion is hidden by the strapportion such that it is substantially prevented from engaging the strapportion to secure the flexible body to a user; and in the smallconfiguration, the second portion is exposed such that it is permittedto engage the strap portion to secure the flexible body to a user. 9.The compression wrap of claim 8, wherein the single unitary strip ofmaterial is a strip of hook-type fastener material.
 10. The compressionwrap of claim 6, wherein the first portion of the strap attachment is afirst attachment strip connected to the strap portion proximate a freeend of the strap portion and the second portion of the strap attachmentis a separate second attachment strip connected to the strap portion,the second portion is interposed between the first attachment strip andthe pressure application portion, the second portion being hiddenbetween the first and second layers when in the large configuration. 11.The compression wrap of claim 1, wherein: the flexible body has a firstlayer of padding material and a second layer of loop-type fastenermaterial attached to the padding material; and the strap attachmentincludes hook-type fastener material that releasably engages theloop-type fastener material when securing the compression wrap to thelimb of a user; the first portion that releasably engages the flexiblebody when the compression wrap is in a large configuration being exposedin the large configuration; the second portion that releasably engagesthe flexible body when the compression wrap is in a small configurationbeing hidden between the first and second layers when in the largeconfiguration and exposed for engagement with the flexible body when inthe small configuration.
 12. The compression wrap of claim 1, furthercomprising a buckle loop connected to the flexible body, the buckle loopsized to receive the strap portion therethrough.
 13. The compressionwrap of claim 5, wherein the strap attachment is a single unitary stripof material, wherein in the large configuration the second portion iscovered by the elongated strap portion such that it is substantiallyprevented from engaging the elongated strap portion to secure thecompression wrap to the user and in the small configuration the secondportion is exposed such that it is permitted to engage the elongatedstrap portion to secure the compression wrap to the user.
 14. Thecompression wrap of claim 5, wherein the strap attachment includes atleast two attachment strips, the first portion of the strap attachmentincludes a first attachment strip connected proximate to the a free endof the elongated strap portion and the second portion of the strapattachment includes a separate second attachment strip connected to theelongated strap portion and interposed between the first attachmentstrip and the pressure application region.
 15. The compression wrap ofclaim 5, wherein the flexible body includes a loop-type materialattached to a padding material and the strap attachment includes ahook-type material configured to releasably mate with the loop-typematerial, wherein in the large configuration the second portion isinterposed between the padding material and the loop-type material suchthat hooks of the hook-type material are generally unexposed and in thesmall configuration hooks of the second portion are exposed.
 16. Thecompression wrap of claim 11, wherein the compression wrap is adjustableby cutting at least the loop-type material and the padding material toexpose hooks of the second portion.
 17. The compression wrap of claim16, wherein the compression wrap is adjustable by further cutting thestrap attachment between the first portion and the second portion toremove the first portion.
 18. The compression wrap of claim 11, whereinthe compression wrap is adjustable from a large configuration to a smallconfiguration by removing the first portion from the strap attachmentand a portion of the strap portion extending from a connection securingthe second portion of the strap attachment to the strap portion to andincluding a free end of the strap portion.